Secret Intelligence Service

It is frequently referred to by the name MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), a name used as a flag of convenience during the First World War when it was known by many names.[2] The existence of MI6 was not officially acknowledged until 1994.[3] In late 2010, the head of SIS delivered what he said was the first public address by a serving chief of the agency in its 101-year history. The remarks of Sir John Sawers primarily focused on the relationship between the need for secrecy and the goal of maintaining security within Britain. His remarks acknowledged the tensions caused by secrecy in an era of leaks and pressure for ever-greater disclosure.[4] Since 1995, the SIS headquarters, have been based at Vauxhall Cross on the South Bank of the River Thames. History and development[edit] Foundation[edit] Its first director was Captain Sir George Mansfield Smith-Cumming, who often dropped the Smith in routine communication. First World War[edit] Inter-War period[edit] Second World War[edit]

Special BranchThe first Special Branch, or Special Irish Branch, as it was known, was a unit of London's Metropolitan Police formed in March 1883 to combat the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The name became Special Branch as the unit's remit widened. Australia[edit]New Zealand PoliceThe New Zealand Police (Māori: Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa, lit. The Policemen of New Zealand) is the national police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal law, enhancing public safety, maintaining order and keeping the peace throughout New Zealand. With over 11,000 staff it is the largest law enforcement agency in New Zealand and, with few exceptions, has primary jurisdiction over the majority of New Zealand criminal law. The New Zealand police also has responsibility for traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement as well as other key responsibilities including protection of dignitaries, firearms licensing and matters of national security. The current Minister of Police is Michael Woodhouse. While the New Zealand Police is a government department with a minister responsible for it, the Commissioner and sworn members swear allegiance directly to the Sovereign and, by constitutional convention, have constabulary independence from the government of the day.

Australian agriculture has 'supermodel syndrome': Marketing expert - ABC RuralUpdated Fri 13 Jun 2014, 12:08pm AEST Australian agriculture is suffering from a ‘supermodel syndrome’ and urgently needs to rethink its approach to marketing and selling itself. That is the view of leading advertising expert Craig Davis, who has worked with brands like Toyota and Coca-Cola. “One of the big issues is that Australia is overconfident,” said Mr Davis. “I call it the ‘supermodel syndrome’. “People think that the natural gifts that they are endowed with being in Australia automatically translate into desire and demand for Australian produce overseas.”

Gene studies suggest King Richard III was a blond, blue-eyed boyLONDON Wed Dec 3, 2014 12:00am IST LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists analysing 500-year-old bones found under a car park say it is now beyond almost any doubt that the remains are of King Richard III, and that studies suggest he had blue eyes and blond hair as a boy. Publishing their latest findings in the journal Nature Communications, researchers from Leicester University also said DNA analysis showed a match between King Richard III and two modern female-line relatives. The remains of Richard -- the last English monarch to die in battle -- were found by archaeologists under a municipal car park in the central English city of Leicester in 2012 and subsequently identified by experts from the university. In a research paper published in September, the scientists were able to give blow-by-blow details of the King's death at the Battle of Bosworth more than 500 years ago, revealing he was very probably killed by a blow to his bare head.

Hawke cabinet secretly approved extending Asio remit to foreign spyingThe Hawke cabinet approved guidelines for the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to spy on Australians to gather foreign intelligence, newly released cabinet documents have revealed. The cabinet agreed not to table the new powers in parliament or to allow them to be scrutinised by the newly established parliamentary joint committee on Asio. The 1988-89 cabinet documents, released on Thursday by the National Archives, show Bob Hawke’s Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet was deeply suspicious of the attorney general’s guidelines to extend Asio’s powers to cover Australian citizens but the cabinet’s security committee approved the decision. The cabinet also approved related rules on intelligence gathered by the country’s overseas intelligence agency, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (Asis). In 1988-89 the cold war was still alive but waning.

HSC ManannanHSC Manannan is a 96-metre (315 ft) wave-piercing high-speed catamaran car ferry built in Tasmania in 1998. After commercial service in Australia and New Zealand, she was chartered to the US Military as USS Joint Venture (HSV-X1). Now owned and operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company, she mainly provides a seasonal service between Douglas and Liverpool. Early history[edit]United Kingdom country profile - Overview12 November 2014Last updated at 07:38 ET The United Kingdom is made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It has a long history as a major player in international affairs and fulfils an important role in the EU, UN and Nato. The twentieth century saw Britain having to redefine its place in the world. At the beginning of the century, it commanded a world-wide empire as the foremost global power. Two world wars and the end of empire diminished its role, but the UK remains an economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world.

John Howard questions Coalition's two royal commissionsJohn Howard has questioned the Coalition’s decision to launch two royal commissions in its first year in government, saying that the process shouldn’t be used for “narrow targeted political purposes”. A royal commission into the home insulation scheme has already concluded, while another royal commission, into unions, is underway. Howard told the Australian: “I’m uneasy about the idea of having royal commissions or inquiries into essentially a political decision on which the public has already delivered a verdict. “I don’t think you should ever begin to go down the American path of using the law for narrow targeted political purposes. I think the special prosecutions in the US are appalling.” Four young men died during work provided by the home insulation scheme in 2009 and 2010.

International Force for East TimorMajor General Peter Cosgrove (right) Australian commander of the United Nations backed peace keeping operation (INTERFET) to East Timor. Commander INTERFET, MAJ GEN Cosgrove joins hands with the new East Timor leadership during a celebration to mark the official handover from INTERFET to UNTAET. Background[edit]BBC FourBBC Four launched on 2 March 2002,[1] with a schedule running from 19:00 to 4:00. The channel shows "a wide variety of programmes including drama, documentaries, music, international film, original programmes, comedy and current affairs ... an alternative to programmes on the mainstream TV channels."[2] It is required by its licence to broadcast at least 100 hours of new arts and music programmes, 110 hours of new factual programmes and to premiere 20 international films each year.[3][4] History[edit] BBC Four launched on 2 March 2002 at 19.00 GMT, having been delayed from the original planned 2001 launch.

Garda Emergency Response UnitThe Emergency Response Unit (ERU) (Irish: Aonad Práinnfhreagartha) is the premier armed tactical operations unit of the Garda Síochána, the national police force of Ireland. The Garda ERU is a section of the forces' Special Detective Unit (SDU), under the Crime & Security Branch (CSB).[2] The unit provides the highest tier of firearms response to Irish law enforcement, specialising in weapons tactics, counter-terrorism, execution of high-risk missions, crisis negotiation, hostage rescue and close protection, among other roles. The ERU was formed in 1978 as the "Special Task Force" to assist ordinary members of the force in extraordinary situations. The ERU regularly trains with the Irish Army Ranger Wing (ARW), the country's military special operations forces, sharing facilities and equipment.[3] Roles[edit] The Emergency Response Unit is responsible for handling the following operations in service of the Garda Síochána;[4][5]